This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (March 2009)

Innu

Flag of the Innu Nation of Quebec and Labrador Flag of the Kawawachikamach Band of the Naskapi Nation Flag of the Matimekush Band of the Innu-Montagnais Nation
Total population
18,000
Regions with significant populations
Canada (Quebec, Labrador)
Languages
Innu-aimun, English, French
Religion
Christianity, other
Related ethnic groups
Cree

Innu communities of Quebec and Labrador and the two Naskapi communities (Kawawachikamach and Natuashish)

The Innu are the indigenous inhabitants of an area they refer to as Nitassinan (“Our Land”), which comprises most of the northeastern portions of the provinces of Quebec and some western portions of Labrador. Their population in 2003 includes about 18,000 people, of which 15,000 live in Quebec and under 3000 in Labrador.

Their ancestors were known to have lived on these lands as hunter-gatherers for several thousand years, living in tents made of animal skins. Their subsistence activities were historically centred on hunting and trapping caribou, moose, deer and small game. Some coastal clans also practised agriculture, fished, and managed maple sugarbush.

Their language, Innu-aimun or Ilnu (popularly known as Montagnais),^[1] is spoken throughout Nitassinan, with certain dialect differences. Innu-aimun is related to East Cree (Īyiyū Ayimūn - Northern/Coastal dialect and Īnū Ayimūn - Southern/Inland dialect) spoken by the James Bay Cree of the James Bay region of Quebec and Ontario and the Atikamekw (Nēhinawēwin and Nehirâmowin) of the Atikamekw (‘Nehiraw’, ‘Nehirowisiw’). Innu-aimun is divided into four dialects - Southern Montagnais (Mashteuiatsh and Betsiamites), Eastern Montagnais (Mingan, Natashquan, La Romaine, Pakuashipi), Central Montagnais (Sept-Iles and Maliotenam, Matimekosh) and Labrador -Montagnais (Sheshatshit).^[2] The speakers of the different dialects can communicate well with each other. The Naskapi language and culture are quite different from those of the Montagnais,^[3] in which the dialect changes from y to n as in "Iiyuu" versus "Innu".

The Innu were allied with neighbouring Atikamekw, Maliseet (also known as Malecite) and Algonquin against their traditional enemies, the Mi'kmaq (formerly known as Micmac) and Iroquois (also known as the Haudenosaunee). During the Beaver Wars (1640 - 1701) the Iroquois repeatedly invaded their territories, and enslaved women and warriors, as well plundering their hunting grounds in search of more furs. Since these raids were made by the Iroquois with unprecedented brutality, the Innu themselves now took over the torment and torture and the cruelty of their Indian enemies. The Naskapi on the other hand were usually in conflicts with the advancing southward Inuit in the east.

Montagnais, Naskapi or Innu[link]

The Innu people are frequently categorized into two groups, the Montagnais (French: “mountain people”, pronunciation: /ˌmɔːntənˈjeɪ/)^[4] or Innu proper (Nehilaw and Ilniw - “people”), who live along the north shore of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, in Quebec; and the less numerous Naskapi (Innu and Iyiyiw), who live farther north. The Innu recognize several distinctions (e.g. Mushuau Innuat, Maskuanu, Uashau Innuat) based on different regional affiliations and various dialects of the Innu language.

The word Naskapi was first recorded by French colonists in the 17th century and was subsequently applied to Innu groups beyond the reach of missionary influence. It particularly applied to those living in the lands which bordered Ungava Bay and the northern Labrador coast, near the Inuit communities of northern Quebec and northern Labrador. It is here that the term came to be used for the Naskapi First Nation.

The Naskapi are traditionally nomadic peoples, in contrast with the more sedentary Montagnais, who establish settled territories. Mushuau Innuat (plural), while related to the Naskapi, split off from the tribe in the 1900s. They were subject to a government relocation program at Davis Inlet. Some of the families of the Naskapi Nation of Kawawachikamach have close relatives in the Cree village of Whapmagoostui, on the eastern shore of Hudson Bay.

Since 1990, the Montagnais people have generally chosen to be officially referred to as the Innu, which means human being in Innu-aimun, while the Naskapi have continued to use the word Naskapi.

The Innu should not be confused with the Inuit, a distinct people who live in the Canadian Arctic.

History[link]

Samuel de Champlain befriended members of this group who insisted that he help them in their conflict with the Iroquois, who were ranging north from their traditional territory in present-day New York state. On July 29, 1609, at Ticonderoga or Crown Point, New York, (historians are not sure which of these two places), Champlain and his party encountered a group of Iroquois. A battle began the next day. Two hundred Iroquois advanced on Champlain's position as a native guide pointed out the three Iroquois chiefs to the French. Champlain fired his arquebus and killed two of them with one shot. One of his men killed the third. The Iroquois turned and fled. This was to set the tone for French-Iroquois relations for the next 100 years.

The Innu of Labrador and those living on the north shore of the Gulf of Saint-Lawrence in the Canadian Shield region have never officially surrendered their territory to Canada by way of treaty or other agreement. As the forest and mining operations began at the turn of the 20th century, the Innu became increasingly settled in coastal communities and in the interior of Quebec. The Canadian and provincial governments, the Catholic, Moravian, and Anglican churches, all encouraged the Innu to settle in more permanent communities, in the belief that their lives would improve with this adaptation. But, with the social disruption and decline of the Innu people's traditional activities (hunting, trapping, fishing), community life in the permanent settlements often became associated with high levels of alcoholism, substance abuse by children, domestic violence and suicide.

Davis Inlet, Labrador[link]

In 1999 Survival International published a study of the Innu communities of Labrador. It assessed the impact of the Canadian government's relocating the people far from their ancestral lands and preventing their practising their ancient way of life.^[5] Survival International considered these policies to be in violation of international law and drew parallels with the treatment of Tibetans by the People's Republic of China. According to the study, from 1990–1997, the Innu community of Davis Inlet had a suicide rate more than twelve times the Canadian average, and well over three times the rate often observed in isolated northern villages.^[5]

By 2000, the Innu island community of Davis Inlet asked the Canadian government to assist with a local addiction crisis. At their request, the community was relocated to a nearby mainland site, now known as Natuashish. At the same time, the Canadian government created the Natuashish and Sheshatshiu band councils under the Indian Act.

Kawawachikamach, Quebec[link]

The Naskapi Nation of Kawawachikamach, of Quebec, is the only Quebec First Nations community that has signed a comprehensive land claims settlement, the Northeastern Quebec Agreement; they did so in 1978. As a consequence, the Naskapi of Kawawachikamach are no longer subject to certain provisions of the Indian Act. All the Innu communities of Quebec are still subject to the Act.

New York Power Authority controversy[link]

The New York Power Authority's proposed contract with the province of Quebec to buy power from its extensive hydroelectric dam facilities has generated controversy.^[6] According to the Sierra Club:

[t]he "New York Power Authority is in preliminary discussions and considering the liability of a new contract with Hydro-Québec," a Canadian supplier of hydroelectricity.

—Legislative Gazette^[6]

The Innu community, the Sierra Club, and the National Lawyers Guild are fighting to prevent this proposed contract, which would have to be approved by New York's Governor Paterson under his regulatory authority.^[6] The problem is that construction of required electric transmission lines would hinder the Innu's hunting-gathering-fishing lifestyle:

Chief Georges-Ernest Gregoire of the Innu community in Eastern Quebec urged the governor not to proceed with a plan to buy hydroelectric power from Canada, saying the dam complex that would be built would affect the traditional way of life for his people.

—Legislative Gazette (caption for a photo of Chief Gregoire)^[6]

Chief Gregoire's comments at a press conference in Albany, New York were translated, but whether from French or Innu-aimun is not clear.^[6]

Natuashish and Sheshatshiu, Newfoundland and Labrador[link]

Although Innu have been only in Sheshatshiu since fur trading posts were established by the Hudson's Bay Company in Northwest River in the mid-1700s and only in Davis Inlet/Natuashish since the Moravians set up along the Inuit Coast in 1771, Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Danny Williams struck a deal on September 26, 2008, with Labrador's Innu to permit construction of a hydroelectric megaproject to proceed on the proposed Lower Churchill site. They also negotiated compensation for another project on the Upper Churchill, where large tracts of Actual traditional Innu hunting lands were flooded.

Culture[link]

“Buckle up your children” sign in Innu-aimun language, in the Pointe-Parent reserve near Natasquan, Quebec.

Traditional crafts[link]

Traditional Innu craft is demonstrated in the Innu tea doll. These children's toys originally served a dual purpose for nomadic Innu tribes. When traveling vast distances over challenging terrain, the people left nothing behind. They believed that "Crow" would take it away. Everyone, including young children, helped to transport essential goods. Innu women made intricate dolls from caribou hides and scraps of cloth. They filled the dolls with tea and gave them to young girls to carry on long journeys. The girls could play with the dolls while also carrying important goods. Every able-bodied person carried something. Men generally carried the heavier bags and women would carry young children.

Traditional clothing, style and accessories[link]

Men wore caribou pants and boots with a buckskin long shirt, all made by women. With the introduction of trade cloth from the French and English, people began replacing the buckskin shirts with ones made of cloth. Most still wore boots and pants made from caribou hide. Women wore long dresses of buckskin and moccasins. Contemporary Innu women have often replaced these with manufactured pants and jackets. Women traditionally wore their hair long or in two coils. Men wore theirs long.

Both genders wore necklaces made of bone and bead. Smoke pipes were used by both genders, marked for women as shorter. If a man killed a bear, it was a sign of joy and initiation into adulthood and the man would wear a necklace made from the bear's claws.

Housing[link]

The houses of the Montagnais were cone shaped. The Naskapi made long, domed houses covered in caribou hides. These days the hearth is a metal stove in the centre of the house.

Traditional foods[link]

Animals traditionally eaten included moose, caribou, hare, marten, woodchuck, squirrel; Canada geese, snow geese, brants, ducks, teals, loons, spruce grouse, woodcocks, snipes, passenger pigeons, ptarmigan; whitefish, lake trout, salmon, seal(naskapi) pike, walleye, suckerfish (Catostomidae), sturgeon, catfish, lamprey, and smelt. Fish were eaten roasted or smoke-dried. Moose meat and several types of fish were also smoked. Bannock made from oats, introduced by the French in the 16th century, became a staple. Meat was eaten frozen, raw or roasted, and caribou was sometimes boiled in a stew. Pemmican was made with moose or caribou.

Plants traditionally eaten included raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, cherries, wild grapes, hazelnuts, crab apples, red martagon bulbs, Indian potato, and maple-tree sap for sweetening. Cornmeal was traded for with Iroquois, Algonquin, and Abenaki First Nations peoples, and made into apon (cornbread), which sometimes also included oat or wheat flour when it became available. Pine-needle tea kept away infections and colds resulting from the harsh weather.

Buckskin[link]

Traditionally, buckskin was a most important material used for clothing, boots, moccasins, house covers and storage. Women prepared the hides and many of the products made from it. They scraped the hides to remove all fur, then left them outside to freeze. The next step was to stretch the hide on a frame. They rubbed it with a mixture of animal brain and pine needle tea to soften it. The dampened hide was formed into a ball and left overnight. In the morning, it would be stretched again, then placed over a smoker to smoke and tan it. The hide was left overnight. The finished hide was called buckskin.

Transportation[link]

In traditional Innu communities, people walked or used snow shoes. Today, they still walk and use snow shoes, but when hunting and moving camp, they use snowmobiles.

Innu communities[link]

Labrador Communities[link]

• Natuashish (‘Nat-wah-sheesh’, formerly Davis Inlet (Utshimassits), home of the Mushuau Innu First Nation, Reserve: Natuashish #2, ca. 43 km², Population: 777) (Naskapi reserve)
• Sheshatshiu (‘Shesh-ah-shee’, Tshishe-shatshu in standardized orthograph, home of the Sheshatshiu Innu First Nation, Reserve: Sheshatshiu #3,ca. 8 km², Population: 1.368)

Although Sheshatshiu and Natuashish are home to most of the province's Innu people, some also live at Labrador City, Wabush, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, St. John's, and elsewhere.^[7]

Labrador Innu Organizations and Land Claims[link]

The Innu people of Labrador formally organized the Naskapi Montagnais Innu Association in 1976 to protect their rights, lands, and way of life against industrialization and other outside forces. The organization changed its name to the Innu Nation in 1990 and functions today as the governing body of the Labrador Innu. The group has won recognition for its members as status Indians under Canada's Indian Act in 2002 and is currently involved in land claim and self-governance negotiations with the federal and provincial governments.^[7]

In addition to the Innu Nation, residents at both Natuashish and Sheshatshiu elect Band Councils to represent community concerns. The chiefs of both councils sit on the Innu Nation's board of directors and the three groups work in cooperation with one another.

Quebec Communities[link]

• Betsiamites (Pessamu in standardized orthograph, home of the Bande des Innus de Pessamit, known also as ‘Pessamit Innu Band’, Reserve: Betsiamites,ca. 252 km², Population: 3.736)
• Ekuantshit (Mingan) (Ekuanitshu in standardized orthograph, home of Les Innus de Ekuanitshit, Reserve: Mingan, ca. 19 km², Population: 564)
• Essipit (Essipu in standardized orthograph, home of the Innue Essipit, also known as Essipit First Nation or ‘Montagnais Essipit’, Reserve: Innue Essipit (or ‘Communaute Montagnaise Essipit’), ca.88 ha, Population: 437)
• La Nation Innu Matimekush-Lac John (also known as ‘Innu Nation of Matimekush-Lac John’, Reserve: Lac John, Matimekosh #3, ca.94 ha, Population: 850)
  • Lac-John
  • Matimekosh (Matamekush in standardized orthograph)
• Kawawachikamach (home of the Naskapi Nation of Kawawachikamach, Reserve: Kawawachikamach, ca. 49 km², Population: 698)[ (Naskapi reserve)
• Mashteuiatsh (Matshiteuiau in standardized orthograph, home of the Montagnais du Lac St.-Jean, also known as ‘Première nation des Pekuakamiulnuatsh’, autonym: ‘Ilnuatsh du Pekuakami’, Reserve: Mashteuiatsh, ca. 15 km², Population: 5.021)
• Natashquan (Nutashkuan in standardized orthograph, home of the Montagnais de Natashquan, Reserve: Natashquan #1, ca. 20 ha, Population: 997)
• Pakuashipi (Pakut-shipu in standardized orthograph, home of the Montagnais de Pakua Shipi, Reserve community: St. Augustin Indian Settlement, Population: 334)
• Uashat-Maliotenam (Uashau mak Mani-utenam in standardized orthograph, home of the Innu Takuaikan Uashat Mak Mani-Utenam, Reserve: Maliotenam #27A, ca. 16 km east of Sept-Îles, Uashat #27 in the City of Sept-Îles, ca. 6 km², Population: 3.874)
• Unamenshipit (La Romaine) (Unaman-shipu in standardized orthograph, home of the Montagnais de Unamen Shipu, Reserve: Romaine #2, ca. 40 ha, Population: 1.089)

Notable people[link]

The best-known members of the Innu nation are the folk rock duo Kashtin, a popular Canadian folk rock duo in the 1980s and 1990s, and one of the most commercially successful and well-known First Nations musical groups.^[8] The band was formed in 1984 by Claude McKenzie and Florent Vollant, two Innu from the Maliotenam reserve in northern Quebec.

The first Innu ever elected to the Canadian House of Commons was Bernard Cleary, a Bloc Québécois MP first elected in the 2004 election.^[9]

Two Innu politicians, Peter Penashue of the Conservative Party and Jonathan Genest-Jourdain of the New Democratic Party, were elected to the House of Commons in the 2011 election, following which Penashue, as a member of the governing party caucus, became the first Innu person ever appointed to the Cabinet of Canada.^[10]

References[link]

Bibliography[link]

• Rogers, Edward S.; & Leacock, Eleanor. (1981). "Montagnais-Naskapi". In J. Helm (Ed.), Handbook of North American Indians: Subarctic (Vol. 6, pp. 169–189). Washington: Smithsonian Institution.

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Innu

• Official website of the Innu Nation of Labrador.
• Official website of the Naskapi Nation of Kawawachikamach, Quebec
• Article from: The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition on the difference between Naskapi and Montagnais
• Website of the Tshikapisk Foundation (a non profit Innu organization focussing on social and cultural renewal)
• Virtual Museum of Canada - Tipatshimuna: Innu stories from the land
• Distinctions between "Naskapi", "Montagnais" and "Innu"
• Montagnais Indians (Quebec) - Article in the Catholic Encyclopedia
• CBC Digital Archives - Davis Inlet: Innu community in crisis
• Montagnais History

v t e Innu First Nation Labrador communities Natuashish (Naskapi) Sheshatshiu Quebec communities Essipit Kawawachikamach (Naskapi) Lac-John La Romaine (Unamenshipit) Mashteuiatsh Matimekosh Mingan (Ekuantshit) Natashquan (Nutashkuan) Pakuashipi Pessamit Uashat-Maliotenam See also: Category:Innu, Naskapi

Florent Vollant performing in 2006

Florent Vollant (born Labrador, August 10, 1959) is a Canadian singer-songwriter. An Innu from Maliotenam, Quebec, he was half of the popular folk music duo Kashtin, one of the most important musical groups in First Nations history.

He has subsequently released three solo albums. His Innu-language album of Christmas songs, Nipaiamianan, earned him an apostolic blessing from Pope John Paul II, as well as the Juno Award for Aboriginal Recording of the Year in 2001.

Discography[link]

• Nipaiamianan (1999)
• Katak (2003)
• Eku Mamu (2009)

External links[link]

• Canadian Heritage, National Gathering on Aboriginal Artistic Expression feature page

This article on a singer-songwriter is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v t e

This Quebec biographical article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v t e

This article contains Indic text. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks or boxes, misplaced vowels or missing conjuncts instead of Indic text.

Abdul Khader (7 April 1926 – 16 January 1989), better known by his stage name Prem Nazir (Malayalam: പ്രേം നസീര്‍), was an Indian film actor. He is considered one of the all time super stars in Malayalam cinema. He is referred to as the Nithya Haritha Nayakan (Ever Green Hero) of Malayalam cinema.

Nazir holds four acting records in the Indian film industry; for playing the lead role in nearly 610 films,^[1] for playing opposite the same heroine in 107 films (with Sheela),^[2] for acting in lead roles in thirty nine films which were released in a single year (1979),^[3] and for acting opposite eighty heroines.^[4] He is regarded as one of the most successful actors in Indian cinema, and is also known for his powerful performances in films like Iruttinte Athmavu, Kallichellamma, Dhwani, Murappennu, Anubhavangal Paalichakal, Padayottam, Vida Parayum Munpe, Azhakulla Saleena, and Nadhi.^[4] The Government of India has honoured him with the Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri, the third and fourth highest civilian honours respectively, for his contribution towards Indian cinema.

Biography[link]

Early life[link]

Nazir was born in Chirayinkeezhu in the princely state of Travancore, to Akkode Shahul Hamid and Asuma Beevi. His mother died when he was very young. He completed his formal education from Kadinamkulam Lower Primary School, Sri Chithiravilasam School, S D College (Alappuzha), and Saint Berchman's College (Changanassery). By the time he completed his education, he had become an experienced drama artist. It was on the sets of his second movie, Visappinte Vili (1952), that Abdul Khader was renamed Prem Nazir by Thikkurussi Sukumaran Nair.

Entry into cinema[link]

Prem Nazir had his acting debut as Shylock in the play The Merchant of Venice (1951), when he was a student at SB College, Changanacherry. He won the best actor award for this role in the play directed by Sheppard. His first film was Marumakal (1952), directed by S. K. Chari and produced by Paul Kallungal. He was credited Abdul Khader itself in this film. He got his career break with Visappinte Vili (1952), his second film, made for K&K Combines (Udaya Studio) by Telegu director Mohan Rao. PremNazir started his career when drama was the most popular visual medium and film making at its infancy. He started acting for the Excel Productions (Udaya Studio) and most of his films were for the Udaya and Merryland Studios.

1950s: Rise to stardom[link]

With the arrival of Nazir, there was a new screen personality, a new debonair actor who could be the heart throb of the youth. Prem Nazir acquired the halo of a romantic hero and a loyal following. His tear-jerkers were very popular with women audiences and soon made him a darling of the masses. He soon became the first real star of Malayalam cinema. Another factor that helped Prem Nazir's instant rise — as it had the rise of his contemporaries in other regional film industries — was the continuing reign of mythologicals and devotionals. Costumed musicals, filmed start-to-finish within the confines of a studio, contributed their own. All such films for a long period kept him before his fans, nourished his romantic image and provided him unlimited scope for rehearsing and refining his talent in essaying diverse roles. Since the bulk of South Indian cinema was theatrical visually and aurally, Prem Nazir's stage background and his extraordinary command of Malayalam helped him win the hearts of his audience.

1960s, 1970s: Golden years[link]

In the late 50s, Nazir drew attention by playing movies with themes based on social and religious injustices in the society. From 1956 to 1976, Prem Nazir rode high at the crest of a tidal wave of popularity and also gave his best to Malayalam cinema. Nazir catapulted to the row of the finest actors of India with the film Iruttinte Athmavu (1967). Playing a demented youth — Velayadhan, Prem Nazir discovered his prowess as a dramatic actor of great intensity. Many critics have evaluated this role as his masterpiece, and as one of the finest onscreen performances ever. Written by M. T. Vasudevan Nair, the film provided Malayalam cinema with a new direction; that of the low budget film. One could see a lot of the pre-occupations of the scenarist, who carried the touches of human relationships through all of his subsequent films whether as screenplay writer or director. In spite of its large number of studio shots and overall theatricality, the film was so culturally rich that many of the episodes would become archetypes for future Malayalam film makers dealing with family drama. It depicted the story of an imbecile (finely portrayed by Prem Nazir) in a joint family with remarkable sensitivity and seriousness of purpose.

During his peak time, Nazir gave life to many characters and enjoyed a wide popularity among all sects of the society. He has played historical characters based on Vadakkan Pattukal. Aromalunni, Kannappanunni, Thacholi Ambu and Padayottam are some major films in this genre. Although the actor faced criticism for playing such roles as his physique was least suited for it, he still enjoyed a huge fan following among the audiences. He was well known for his roles as Hindu deities like Rama, Krishna and Ayyappa. In his movies, Nazir was well known for essaying the eternal romantic hero and the good guy who would bash up the villains without remorse.

Even though Nazir could not regenerate after the mid-1970s, he maintained his superstardom till the beginning of 1980s. In 1979, 39 of his films got released; a record. He also holds the record for having acted in the most leading roles – about 700 films (with 85 heroines; another record). Another record is for the most enduring screen team along with actress Sheela. They played opposite each other in 130 movies by 1975. Although Sheela is known as the lucky mascot of Prem Nazir, his movies with other heroines like Jayabharathi and Sharada were also big successes at box office. Prem Nazir pairing with comedian Adoor Bhasi was a sure-fire laugh riot. The void left by this duo is yet to be occupied. Nazir's association with playback singer K. J. Yesudas was perfect for the audience. Even today many consider the Nazir – Yesudas combination of song sequences remains the best ever on screen. He is quite popularly described as Nithyaharithanayakan (The Evergreen Hero), which do justice to the fact that he was acting as the hero in his elder years as well. Senior Malayalam cine actress Kaviyoor Ponnamma has revealed that Prem Nazir was a very good singer, and had training in Carnatic music.

1980s: Late career[link]

By the beginning of 1980s, Nazir himself moved into supporting roles. He mostly played supporting roles with the then super stars Jayan, Sukumaran and Soman. In 1981, he played a major supporting role in Mohan's Vida Parayum Munpe that earned him the Kerala State Special Jury Award. This shift, from a super romantic hero to character roles, gave him many powerful characters during the mid-1980s. His last completed film was A. T. Abu's Dhwani (1989), in which he co-starred with Jayaram. His last release was Priyadarshan's Kadathanadan Ambadi (1990), in which he co-starred with Mohanlal. In one of his last interviews, he had expressed a desire to direct a film with Mammootty and Mohanlal in the lead.

Personal life[link]

Prem Nazir was a teetotaller. He tried his hand in politics and had joined the Congress Party but he never contested elections. He was also a social reformer and with a helping mentality to others. He helped with money to some public needs in and around Chirayinkeezhu. e.g.:- Koonthalloor School, Chirainkeezhu Hospital, Palakunnu Library etc. Nazir also wrote a book on the film characters he essayed, Enne Thediyetha Kathapathrangal.

Prem Nazir's younger brother Prem Nawaz (Abdul Wahab) also acted in a few films. Although he was the first in the family to begin acting in movies, he later began producing films – Agniputhri, Thulaavarsham, Poojakku Edukatha Pookkal, Neethi and Keni to name a few. Prem Nawaz's only son, Prem Kishore has also had a stint with the industry by acting in two Malayalam films – Vacation and Thaskaraputran. Prem Nawaz has the distinction of acting in the first ever colour film made in Malayalam – Kandam Vechu Kottu. Prem Nazir's son Shahnawaz acted in a few films as well but could not succeed like his father.

Prem Nazir has three daughters viz. Laila (married to Engineer Rashid of Trivandrum & settled at Calicut), Rasiya (married to Mr.Hashim, Businessman from Kannur & settled at Chennai) – both elder to Shanawas. The youngest daughter is Rita (married to Doctor Sharafuddin of Punalur & settled at Muscat). Shanawas's wife Aisha (Malaysia) is the daughter of the eldest sister of Prem Nazir Late Suleikha Beevi.

Legacy and Influence[link]

Accolades and achievements[link]

Awards[link]

He was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1983 by the President of India in recognition of distinguished services of a high order to the nation in his field (acting). The Prem Nazir Award was initiated in his memory, in 1992, for excellence in contributions to the Malayalam cinema Industry. He has also held the position of National Film Award jury chairman.

Popular Star and Trend Setter[link]

Prem Nazir is known to be the most influential and trendsetting lead actor in Malayalam. He is known for his amazing longevity in that he was active during the peak years of other iconic Malayalam superstars like Sathyan and Jayan acting alongside them in 60s and 70s respectively. Nazir who began his movie career in the early 50s, later acted alongside popular future stars like Mammootty & Mohanlal by the 80s. He was a mainstream superstar in Malayalam for over a quarter of a century from late 1950s to early 80s. He also has an unofficial recognition of playing a campus character while in his late 50s.

Ultimate Romantic Hero[link]

Nazir is generally considered the ultimate romantic hero in malayalam cinema due to his extraordinary handsomeness and ease of acting in romantic roles particularly in romantic song sequences.^[5] His song sequences combined with the lyrics of Vayalar, tunes of Devarajan and voice of K.J. Yesudas produced what is called the golden era of malayalam film songs.^[6]

Popular film genres[link]

Two popular film genres initiated by Prem Nazir are the C.I.D series and the Vadakkanpattu series. The former is a group of investigative films in 60s & 70s in which Nazir played James Bond like protagonists. In most of these movies Nazir teamed with Adoor Bhasi, a famed comedy actor who would accompany Nazir characters in investigations. These hit mainstream popularity with the trendsetter Lanka Dahanam and are perhaps the single most popular movie series in malayalam film history. The waves created by this movie series continue in malayalam cinema, arguably to this day. It has inspired numerous adaptations and similar series like for example popular CBI series with Mammootty in the lead and a satirical CID series of Mohanlal-Sreenivasan team. Other inspired films are C.I.D Unnikrishnan starring Jayaram & C.I.D Moosa with Dileep in the lead. Another popular film series starring Nazir was a series of movies based on Vadakanpaattu which are part of the traditional folklore of Kerala. These are tales of martial warriors spread over generations through folk songs. Although the series may have been initiated by Sathyan's title role in Thacholi Othenan, the trend was continued long after his demise with Nazir in the lead, playing various other characters from Vadakkanpattu.^[7] Nazir later teamed with other actors like Jayan and Mohanlal in later films of this category. A similar historical film series began later with Mammootty in the lead.

Important characters[link]

• Anubhavangal Paalichakal (Experiences and Failures) (1971) – The story of persecutions and suffering of communists in the early days of modern Kerala. Nazir played one of the heroes alongside Sathyan.
• Iruttinte Athmavu (The Soul of Darkness) (1966) – Nazir played the mentally challenged Bhrantan Velayudhan in this film based on the classic novel by M. T. Vasudevan Nair.
• Padayottam (The Campaign) (1982) – Its story was inspired by Alexandre Dumas classic novel The Count of Monte Cristo and the treatment of the film was inspired by that of Ben-Hur.
• Vida Parayum Munpe (Before saying Good Bye) (1981) – Nazir received a special jury award for this film in the 1981 Kerala State Film Award.
• Ayalvasi Oru Daridravasi (Neighbour The Pauper!) (1986) – A comedy film by Priyadarshan, Nazir performed as an middle-aged father.
• Dhwani (The Sound) (1988) – This was his last completed film. The film was a hit due to several factors like the excellent performances by Prem Nazir, Jayaram, Shobhana, Suresh Gopi, Thilakan, and the everlasting music by maestro Naushad.
• Ningalenne Communistakki (You Made Me a Communist) – The 1970 film was based on the drama of the same name by Thoppil Bhasi.
• Odeyil Ninnu (From the Gutter) – The 1966 film was based on the novel of the same name by P. Kesavadev.
• Murappennu (1965)
• Nadhi (The River) (1969)
• Triveni

Selected filmography[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Prem Nazir at the Internet Movie Database
• Prem Nazeer at MSI

Videos of his last journey[link]

• http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=DkBnnLfFyOU
• http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=2WSgkHdlkiA&feature=related
• http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=SI0-dHxW-GI&feature=related
• http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=cyx7QEeVaxY&feature=related